Freightliner PL receives first new locomotives

Coal and dry bulk freight rail services company Freightliner Poland, a subsidiary of UK-based Freightliner Group, has taken delivery of the first of five news DRAGON locomotives.

Supplied by Newag S.A. and financed by ING Lease (Poland), the six-axle electric locomotives also include n additional diesel engine for operations on non-electrified end lines and sidings.

“Investing in modern rolling stock is one way to uplift the image of railway services,” said President of the Board of Freightliner Poland, Konstantin Skorik. “As a result, we have decided to extend our fleet with DRAGONS – new, six-axle electric locomotives, which have an additional diesel engine. The DRAGON locomotives are the product of Polish engineering, which is characterised by the highest parameters of power, efficiency, ergonomics and reliability.”

During the official handover ceremony, the first DRAGON locomotive was named Ernest Malinowski. Malinowski was a Polish railway engineer and constructor of the Central Trans-Andean Railway in Peru.

“I am very proud and honoured to officially hand over the first of three DRAGON E6ACTd six-axle locomotives to the management of Freightliner Poland,” said Józef Michalik, Deputy President of the Board, Newag S.A.

“We are convinced that their reliability and technical readiness (at 99.3% and 99.5% respectively) will significantly reduce spending on rolling stock reserve. The six-axle locomotive is the first of its kind manufactured in Poland equipped with the dual power module, enabling its operation on non-electrified sidings.”

Freightliner Group is a leading rail freight provider with businesses in the UK, Europe, Australia and the Middle East. It is a subsidiary of US-based Genesee & Wyoming Inc.